Ironman World Championship Showcases Incredible Women Athletes

IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR GOPRO IRONMAN - Seventy-nine year-old Harriet Anderson crosses the finish line at the 2013 GoPro IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013. Anderson becomes the oldest female participant to cross the finish line at the IRONMAN. (Marco Garcia/AP Images for GoPro Ironman)

After 35 years, the Ironman competition may need to rethink its title to incorporate its Ironwomen. After all, the women of the Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii yesterday put on an incredible performance.

The remarkable 78-year-old Harriet Anderson finished the race with three minutes to spare (Ironman competitors have a maximum of 17 hours to finish). Anderson has completed the Kona Ironman more than 20 times, including in 2010 when she broke her clavicle mid race. After getting cut off and crashing during the bike ride, Anderson picked herself up and completed the race by walking the entire marathon. This year, Anderson was the only woman in the 75-79 age group.